In short, YES!

Breastmilk is a hundred times better than chicken noodle soup for a sick little one. It contains antibodies created specifically to fight the baby’s illness and is easily digested by even the fussiest tummies.

If your baby is congested, keep her as upright as possible when nursing. Wearing her in a sling or baby carrier and nursing in a semi upright position may help her manage breathing and nursing.

Breastmilk is not a “dairy product”. You may have been advised by your baby’s doctor to keep him or her away from dairy, but breastmilk is just fine, in fact it’s just what baby needs to help her heal.

Nurse often and drop some saline drops or drops of breastmilk into her stuffy nostrils. Nursing in a steamy bathroom may help clear her nose. Unlike cow’s milk, breastmilk does not increase mucus production.

If your baby refuses to eat, offer him expressed milk in a cup or in a spoon. You can even make “momsicles” by freezing your breastmilk until it’s slushy and letting baby eat it with a spoon (like a sno-cone!).

If your little one has diarrhea or vomiting, keep nursing. Sick children need more frequent feedings to prevent dehydration and hasten recovery. Even if the milk seems to come up quickly after it goes down, likely some of it is already digested, giving baby much needed nutrition.

Nursing also provides baby with the comfort s/he is used to, helping him heal quickly and keeping him as comfortable as possible during the illness.

Always talk to your baby’s pediatrician when you notice signs of infection or illness. But, in nearly every case, the best thing to do is breastfeed the days away and take time to really nurture your baby. And rest assured that your milk is better than any packaged remedy.

Road Trip With a Breastfed Baby:

If your baby or toddler is already eating solids, this can be an option for feeding him on the road. However, if he only drinks milk, you might want to pump milk ahead of time into bottles to feed him along the way. If you are the passenger, you can even pump into a bottle and feed him during the drive, if need be. Some babies do not take bottles at all and only drink from the breast. In this case, you’ll want to schedule in regular meals and snacks for your child by visiting rest stops to nurse him. Do not remove the baby from his car seat as you travel on the road, as this is both illegal and potentially dangerous.

Breastfeeding On An Airplane:

While it may be frowned upon by some people, it is perfectly legal to breastfeed your baby in public, and this includes during a flight. As a breastfeeding mother, you even have an advantage over those who use bottles, due to the strict liquid regulations. While bottles of formula and milk are now allowed onto planes, the milk in your breasts are not subject to search and are quite portable, making traveling easier for you. One tip you’ll want to try is breastfeeding your baby during takeoff and landing. This can reduce his fears of flying and reduces the chance of his ears popping, which can feel painful for a baby. While many people aren’t thrilled about having a baby near them in flight, breastfed babies typically make wonderful flying companions!

Taking along a baby sling can be a huge help when traveling with a baby, especially when going through busy airports. You can even nurse discreetly in the sling and noone will be the wiser. The sling also helps to comfort baby and reduce fussiness, as well as helping him nap when he’s tired.

Bottle Feeding

Breastfeeding while traveling and doing activities is certainly different than feeding at home. For many breastfeeding mothers, bottle feeding is a new concept. If you do plan on bottle-feeding your pumped milk on outings, be sure you have a cooler that can keep milk fresh as you are traveling and be sure to abide by the guidelines of how long milk should be kept. If you are planning on being away from the baby for a period of time, such as a day at the spa, then be sure to pump ahead of time for baby as well. This can also be an adjustment for baby as well and should be introduced to him days before your departure.

Taking care of yourself

Although vacation is designed to be fun, it can also be physically and mentally exhausting. There is a lot of moving around from place to place that occurs, as well as eating at new places and experiencing new things. It is also possible you will be nursing on a different schedule, which can be uncomfortable for you. To counteract this, be sure you are getting plenty of rest, fluids and nutrition. If you are breastfeeding at odd hours or less than usual, you might need to carry along a small pump with you (or pump by hand) to release some milk and give you some comfort. Take along breastfeeding items you may need, such as breast pads, lanolin or hot packs if your breast get sore. Vitamin B6 can also assist in tenderness. Vacations are a common time for moms to experience plugged ducts or mastitis. Baby is distracted and you may be nursing less. Be sure to take care of yourself so your vacation is relaxing.

Breastfeeding, most new moms think, should come naturally. After all, that’s what breasts are for, right? But breastfeeding doesn’t always come easily for new moms, especially if they’ve never been around other moms who’ve breastfed. New moms may wonder, “What is a lactation consultant and how do I find one?”
photo credit: EraPhernaliaVintage

You’re in luck! Lactation consultants aren’t elusive; in fact, they want to be found. How do you find one? Actually, there are a number of avenues you may want to consider when trying to find a qualified lactation consultant:

1. Ask your obstetrician/gynecologist or midwife if they know of any lactation consultants. If your OB/GYN is a female, she may be able to recommend someone she’s used personally.

2. Read the flyers in your doctor’s office. There may be a flyer explaining about lactation consultants and how to contact them in your area. Of course, if you live in a smaller community, you may find them in a larger city near you.

3. Child birth educators quite often have a list of available lactation consultants. They will either pass out these lists during a child birth class or make them available to class participants at the end of your classes.

4. Ask around at the hospital where you plan to deliver if they can recommend a lactation consultant. Some hospitals even have a lactation consultant on staff.

5. Call local pediatricians’ offices to see if they can refer anyone or what their recommendations are for women wanting to breastfeed.

6. Look in your telephone book to see if there’s a lactation consultant near you. Quite often they are hired by hospitals first and then start working out of their homes.

7. Check the phone book for a La Leche League group near you. Larger cities generally have La Leche chapters so you can get information about which chapters are in your area by calling the national office. Hospitals, OB/GYN, and pediatricians should have access to their toll-free number. La Leche League leaders are breastfeeding mothers who volunteer their time to help other women. Lactation Consultants, on the other hand, are not always experienced breastfeeding women. Some of them are men! In addition, La Leche League leaders give their assistance without charge.

8. Search for lactation consultants on the internet. You may want to search using “lactation consultants (your city and state)” as the search term. If there are lactation consultants to be found in your area, a search engine will be sure to find them.

9. Strike up a conversation when you’re around other moms. This could be while you’re waiting in the doctor’s office, you’re grocery shopping, or if you attend worship services. If you know a mom who has breastfed they may have a name and number they can give you.

Most pediatricians are coming to the realization that breastfeeding is the best way for you to feed your newborn. If they can’t recommend a lactation consultant, don’t despair. You can use any of these ideas to find a lactation consultant to answer any questions you may have, encourage you, and help you to be a successful breastfeeding mom.

“My baby fusses and sometimes pulls away from the nipple while nursing. What does this mean and should I be concerned?“

This is fairly common and there are several things that could be going on here.

First, nursing babies have different personalities. Some babies are quite relaxed at the breast. Others are more finicky. Not all babies relax during a nursing session. Sometimes your baby will appear downright unhappy. Don’t get discouraged, even though I know it can be disheartening to see your baby protest and pull off the breast during this otherwise miraculous bonding experience.

If your baby fusses while nursing, take note of any potential triggers for this unease. Growths spurts, teething, sickness, and new developmental milestones can cause a baby to fuss. If you baby fusses while nursing at the beginning of a feeding session, he or she may be protesting a too fast or too slow let-down. If baby gets fussy at the end, he or she may want to switch breasts to a faster milk flow or need to be burped.

Some babies experience some soreness or birth trauma and benefit from a visit with an Osteopath or Chiropractor. My second born son, after an adjustment, started nursing with ease. He previously fussed when lying on one side (and nursing on that particular breast).

If your baby suddenly starts fussing after nursing comfortably for awhile, he may have a sore throat or earache. Tell your Doctor about it if you’re concerned. Another possibility is that the baby has developed a yeast infection in his mouth called thrush.

Know that fussing at the breast is common during the first six to eight weeks. If you’re concerned, have a lactation consultant check your latch and rule out any signs of thrush. Otherwise, it’s just another newborn quirk.

Experts walk you through various positioning techniques and answer the most frequently asked questions for new moms just learning the art of breastfeeding. Whether you’re a new mom or just need a refresher course and some new tips for successful nursing, a breastfeeding DVD can provide tons of valuable information in a format that’s easy to access and understand.

Since latch on and positioning of your baby are so very important to nursing comfortably and well, and these skills are somewhat difficult to learn from a book, a breastfeeding DVD can be just the ticket for you.

Recommended:

Breastfeeding How To Videos (instant download so you don’t have to wait for a DVD to come in the mail!)

Breastfeeding DVDs on Amazon

If you’re having breastfeeding frustrations, here are some tips to help you find the support you need.

1. Remember that your Pediatrician or Ob/Gyn may not have the answers you need. If s/he can’t answer your breastfeeding questions, don’t give up – just look for help somewhere else. This is also true if your health care provider isn’t really supportive of breastfeeding. If she is a woman, she may have had an unhappy breastfeeding experience and is unwilling or unable to give you good information and support.

2. Find someone who is specially trained to answer your breastfeeding questions, like a lactation specialist or a member of the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

3. You could also speak with a La Leche League Leader. These are volunteers who have been specially trained to help mothers with breastfeeding. They are also good listeners, and non-judgmental. Many of them have dealt with special circumstances like nursing twins, nursing through challenges, and adoptive nursing. If the first leader you contact doesn’t have the experience in that area, she can consult with other leaders or refer you to someone who does.

4. One of your best sources of help and support can be other mothers who have successfully breastfed their children. They can tell you about their experiences, and assure you that things you are experiencing are normal. They can also give you advice and tell you what worked for them.

Even if you’re not having problems with breastfeeding right now, it is still a good idea to learn what resources are available and where you can connect with other breastfeeding moms. If you ever do have concerns, you will know exactly where to go for help and won’t be tempted to give up breastfeeding your baby before you’re ready.

Of course, you can also look for excellent advice from breastfeeding books and videos in the privacy of your home. Remember that breastfeeding is not supposed to hurt! Some initial discomfort while you and baby are learning is normal, but pain is not and needs to be addressed. Sometimes a small change in position can make all the difference.